Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Date:04/30/2015
ATTENDANCE
Time:01:17 PM to 02:36 PM
Cooke
X
Garcia
*
Place:SCR 352
Todd
X
Scott
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Baumgardner
X
Senator Baumgardner
This Report was prepared by
Mistia Zuckerman
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
HB15-1345
SB15-286		Referred to the Committee of the Whole - Consent Calendar
Referred to Finance


01:17 PM -- HB 15-1345

Senator Baumgardner, Chair, called the meeting to order. A quorum was present.

01:18 PM

Senator Neville, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 15-1345. Current law requires that a motorcyclist obtain a motorcycle endorsement on his or her driver's license. Motorcyclists and passengers are also required by current law to wear eye protection and, if under the age of 18, a helmet. The bill exempts motorcyclists and passengers of a three-wheel motorcycle from these requirements if the motorcycle has a top speed of 25 miles per hour, a windshield, and seatbelts (motorcycles meeting these criteria are also known as auto rickshaws or tuk-tuks).

01:19 PM -- Walid Mourtada, representing e-Tuk USA, testified in support of the bill. He said that under current law, drivers of tuk-tuks are required to get a motorcycle license, and therefore, anyone under 18 who is riding on a tuk-tuk must wear a helmet. He described the difficulty with identifying passengers under 18 and making them use a helmet. He discussed the differences between motorcycles and tuk-tuks, including the fact that the latter can only reach a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour. Mr. Mourtada responded to questions from the committee regarding the helmet laws for youth, whether tuk-tuks have steering wheels or handlebars, and the expected design of the vehicles.

01:26 PM -- Dennis Haberstumphf, representing A Brotherhood Aimed Towards Education (ABATE) of Colorado, testified as neutral on the bill. He said that ABATE is concerned that accidents involving tuk-tuks are classified as motorcycle accidents, and he described how this classification could skew data on motorcycle accidents. He responded to questions from the committee regarding how motorcycles are currently classified and the differences between tuk-tuks and motor scooters. Senator Neville discussed the potential success of tuk-tuks as a business model.


01:34 PM

The committee took a brief recess.

01:36 PM

The committee came back to order. Senator Neville provided closing comments on the bill.
BILL:HB15-1345
TIME: 01:36:46 PM
MOVED:Scott
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1345 to the Committee of the Whole, with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar. The motion passed on a vote of 5-0.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cooke
Yes
Garcia
Yes
Todd
Yes
Scott
Yes
Baumgardner
Yes
Final YES: 5 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

01:37 PM -- SB 15-286

Senator Sonnenberg, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 15-286. This bill repeals the Motorcycle Operator Safety Training (MOST) program in the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). It requires the Department of Revenue (DOR) to issue a motorcycle endorsement to an applicant who provides proof of completion of a motorcycle training program that meets the standards of the National Association of State Motorcycle Safety Administrators. Authority to levy surcharges for the program is repealed. Senator Sonnenberg distributed a handout (Attachment A) and discussed problems with the MOST program and attempts to fix those problems.

150430 AttachA.pdf150430 AttachA.pdf

01:42 PM -- Christi Little, representing herself, testified against the bill. She discussed her role as a liaison to the MOST program. She said that if this bill passes, CDOT will no longer provide oversight of training programs. She discussed the increase in the number of people taking motorcycle safety training classes and the need for departmental oversight to guarantee that new riders receive a high level of training.

01:45 PM -- Colleen Boyle, representing T3RG Motorcycle Schools, testified in support of the bill. She said that the vendor already provides oversight and discussed the role of the MOST program in assuring quality service and training. She discussed her role on the MOST Advisory Board and said that more schools should participate on the board.


01:49 PM -- Dave Tolbert, representing the Motorcycle Training Academy, testified against the bill. He provided a brief history of the MOST fund and discussed how the number of companies providing training has increased greatly while this program has been in existence. He discussed the number of students who know about the class fee subsidy, the relationship between the cost of the course and attendance, and issues with how the MOST program is understaffed.

01:57 PM -- Jennifer Tolbert, representing herself, testified against the bill. She discussed the lack of communication between the schools and the MOST Advisory Board, the need for departmental oversight, and the training schools' desire for oversight. She responded to questions from the committee.

02:04 PM -- Jason Curdy, representing Full Throttle Riding Academy, testified against the bill.

02:06 PM -- Bruce Downs, representing ABATE of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. He discussed ABATE's concerns that the MOST program has created a multi-layered bureaucracy. He distributed a copy of his testimony and the results of the 2014 Participant Survey Report conducted by CDOT for the MOST program (Attachments B and C).

150430 AttachB.pdf150430 AttachB.pdf150430 AttachC.pdf150430 AttachC.pdf

02:11 PM -- Deb Tiger Chandler, representing the Colorado Confederation of Clubs and the Coalition of Independent Riders, testified in support of the bill. She discussed alternative oversight systems and the role of the Department of Motor Vehicles in approving each school's curriculum. She responded to questions from the committee regarding how 15 percent of the funding for the MOST program goes to CDOT for operating expenses.

02:17 PM -- Andy Karsian, representing CDOT, came to the table for questions. He said that CDOT is neutral on the bill and provided an overview of the MOST program's budget. He said that there is one full-time employee managing the program and that CDOT believes the program would be better served under the DOR. Senator Sonnenberg discussed the service charges for riders that fund the MOST program. Mr. Karsian responded to questions from the committee regarding the effects of ending the MOST program now.

02:25 PM

Senator Sonnenberg provided closing comments on the bill. The committee took a brief recess.


02:34 PM

The committee came back to order.
BILL:SB15-286
TIME: 02:35:37 PM
MOVED:Scott
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 15-286 to the Committee on Finance. The motion passed on a vote of 3-2.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cooke
Yes
Garcia
No
Todd
No
Scott
Yes
Baumgardner
Yes
Final YES: 3 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:36 PM

The committee adjourned.